An arcsecond is a very small angle on the sky; the full moon is more than two million square arcseconds in area.) A decently dark site in a rural area has a sky background of about 21 mag/arcsec 2.

Of course the sky is dark at night.” But that answer is wrong or, at best, incomplete, and the actual situation wasn’t obvious even to eminent scientists a century or so ago.

The new moon of May occurs on May 26. Two days later the moon will make a close pass to Jupiter in the evening sky, and the summer constellations will be rising.

On the first night of the new moon, I gaze at the sky from a campsite in Northern California. The night is so black that when I hold out my hand, I can’t see my fingertips. It’s not just an ...

On the evening of July 24, 2025, the new moon will arrive, heralding a spectacular celestial display. As reported by ...

A mesmerizing video of the moon and Venus appearing to move together across a dark night sky over the Hawaiian island of Oahu has gone viral on Instagram. The scene was captured in Honolulu, the ...

Martha Ferguson is passionate about observing and enjoying what the night sky has to offer. From viewing constellations to watching the moon rise, it is one of the things she loves about living in the ...

What to bring on a stargazing trip Night-time temperatures can drop significantly, especially in desert or mountain locations. Dress in layers and bring a good pair of finger-flap gloves and a hat ...

A two-day old moon is not difficult to see if you know where to look. But to see a moon one day old — or less — requires planning and patience. The new moon occurs at 11:02 p.m. EDT on Monday ...

Although this phenomenon brings the moon closer to Earth, don’t expect to see it in Texas — this phase keeps the moon hidden in the dark sky, making it invisible to the naked eye.

But on a clear, cloudless night, free from the glow of city lights, it can be easy to see stars, planets, constellations, and even the Milky Way — as long as the sky is dark enough.